Routines 101

My house can fall a part so quickly.  That is what happens with multiple munchkins in tow.

The best way I have found to keep up with the mess is to have an established morning and evening routine.  What you make a routine gets done!  You already have a routine too, it may go something like...  Roll out of bed, java up as fast as you can, turn on cartoons for munchkins so you can focus, and get breakfast on table while checking email or other social media. 

My mornings just happened for so long.  I did the same things but I never really gave thought to what I was doing or why I was doing it then.   I was just reacting (not always with a gentle spirit) to everything that came my way.  Sure I had ideals but they never seemed to happen.

It wasn't until I sat down and got purposeful about my routines that I began to see a difference.   Not that all of the craziness goes away, but there is more peace in my heart because I have a plan.   Proverbs 21:5 says, "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity."

Note: I'm NOT a planner by nature.  I love to just GO.  But I have learned that wisdom calls for planning. 

Here is how...

Grab a paper and pencil, Yes I'm serious.

Write down what you and your kids already do each morning and each evening.  Next write down what you would like to see you and your kids doing in the morning and evening.  Be realistic and practical.  Each mom has her biggies.  Mine are a clean kitchen sink, tidy beds, and a picked up family room.  Your biggies may be different.  Taylor your routine to what is most important to you.  Note about how long it takes for to do each task.  If you don't know set a timer tomorrow morning and find out.  Really.  You'll be surprised that some things take way longer than you think and others take hardly any time at all!   Now you can use this as a guide for how long your routine takes for you and your kids.  This will better guide you on when everyone needs to be rolling out of bed.  

Here is what ours looks like...

My Morning

• Make Bed
• Do breakfast dishes
• Wipe off kitchen table and counters 
• Check - calendar, email, bank account
• Table Time - Read Bible story, go over memory verses, pray, go over days events

My Kids Morning

• Get dressed
• Put away PJ's
• Brush Teeth
• Do Hair
• Make Bed

My Evening

• Dishes Done
• Wipe off counters and table
• Quick pick up of main living areas
• Make pot of coffee
• Quick sweep kitchen
• Take out trash

My Kids Evening

• Pick up toys 
• Wash up
• Dirty clothes in hamper
• Put on PJ's 
• Brush Teeth 

My kids Morning and Evening Routine is posted since they are still young.  It makes for an easy reminder for them.   I can say, "Check your routine.  Have you done everything?"

These are the routines I have now but I know that as seasons in my life change then my routines will change.  Yours will too.  I'll have one in school for the first time this year.   Mostly likely some things will change.  

Remember this is just a guide to help you.  I love checklists but they can also be a discouragement if you enslave yourself to them.  If you don't get to something no biggy.  That is life with little ones.  But if you don't have a plan you are going to continue running in circles.  At least I was.  I wish someone had told me about the benefits of a morning and evening routine earlier.  

Hope this is helpful.  Happy planning! 

Wipe me down and clean me up - Bathroom Bust

Who does not love a clean bathroom?  I sure do.  Something about walking into the smell of CLEAN.  But the art of cleaning is something I have had to learn and am still learning.  I did NOT step into marriage knowing how to keep my home clean efficiently or effectively.  I knew some things but I was more a "take care of it as you go" kinda girl.  And, I still have a lot to learn.  With now three kiddos in toe, keeping up with cleaning can be overwhelming at times.   So here are a few bathroom cleaning secrets (learned from other wise women) to keep my sanity.

• First (Most Important) - Do it every week!  Really!  I know that may sound terrible but if you do it every week it never gets really dirty.  This eliminates that overwhelming fright of toilet scum.  Also it make your bathroom super fast to clean.  
• Second - Have all your supplies in EACH bathroom.  (Thank you mom!)  Yes, really if you have two bathrooms double up.  If you have three triple up.  This make everything so handy.  Here is what I keep in my bathroom totes and under the sink.
• Windex
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Toilet bowl brush
• Paper towel
• Swiffer duster
• Disinfecting cleaning wipes
• Swiffer wet pads
• Magic eraser
• Small garbage bags
• Third - Always clean on the same day of the week.  For me that day is Monday.  My house always seems to fall a part over the weekend.  I love starting off the week with a clean house.  Also our family activities seems to get busier as the week progresses.  Cleaning day has become a standing appointment at my home and I do my best not to book things on that day.  So if you come by my home on a Monday, You'll probably find clean smelling bathrooms.
• Fourth - Establish a rhythm.  Clean that bathroom the same way every time.  This makes it SO much faster to clean.  Here is my bathroom wipe down. 
• Shake out rug and remove
• Clean inside toilet bowl
• Spray and clean mirror
• Wipe off sink
• Wipe off toilet
• Wipe out tub
• Quick Dust
• Remove Trash
• Mop floor if need.

So today I cleaned all of my three bathrooms in 15 minutes!  This is a once a week job for me.  I had all my supplies in each bathroom and I did it just the way you see above.

Every homemaker has their different "biggies."  If bathrooms is one of yours that overwhelms you to the point where you put it off...and off...and off...and you have not tired these four ideas, then I'd encourage you to try them out for a month.  I don't think you will be disappointed and you'll have a new house cleaning habit in place. 

You Should Know:
I absolutely HATE cleaning the master shower.  I delegate this job to my hubby.  It is the only thing he cleans and I am oh so happy to turn it over to him.

Happy bathroom cleaning!